Electric-circuit-controlling appliance



May 6, 1930. J. SACHS 1,757,742 ELECTRIC CIRCUIT CONTROLLING APPLIANCE IOriginal Filed July 12, 1927 2 Sheets-sheaf; 1

as I v Fig. 5

[27?2211'02" v cfaagz h 555/75 5 1. 26% y iZtZ m'mey May 6, 1930. J. SACHS 1,757,742

ELECTRIC CIRCUIT CQIITROLLING APPLIANCE Original .Filed July 12, 1927 2Sheets-Sheet 2 'F 4z4 Fi .5 I Fi .5

. Jirwenbar JusgU/z 550/75 arne y Patented May 6, 1930 UNITED STATESPAT-aur- OFFICE .rosnrn SACHS, or wnsr HARTFORD, CONNECTICUTELECTRIC-CIRCUIT-CONTROLLING APPLIANCE Application filed July 12, 1927,Serial No. 205,207; Renewed December 7, 1929.

ticularly intended and adapted for direct association with an electricmeter. The appliance as shown in the said application has means servingto directly and relatively permanently connect one fuse contact with onestationary switch contact of one switching device, and it has four wirereceiving terminals, one connected with the remaining fuse contact, oneconnected with the remaining switch contact of the said switching de-"vice, and two connected respectively 'with the stationary switchcontacts of the other switching device.

One of the objects of the present invention is to provide afused switchappliance of the type described having allof the fuse contacts arrangedso as to beinitially free from electrical connection with any of theswitch conwire receiving terminals instead of four,

these six terminals being connected respectively with the said two fusecontacts and with the four stationary switch contacts of the two saidswitching devices. It will be obvious that with six independent wirereceiving terminals it is possible to conveniently connect the said twoswitching devices and the fuse contactsin any desired electricalsequence and it is also possible to include in this sequence at anydesired point some other electrical appliance such as an electric meter.

In my copending application for Electric circuit controlling appliance,Serial No. 218,279, filed Sept. 8, 1927, I have disclosed and claimed anappliance of the general type disclosed in my patents for Electriccircuit controlling appliances, No. 1,754,433 and No. 1,754,445, bothissued April 15, 1930, but having four wire receiving terminalscontacts, the said appliance having six separatenected and arranged asalready described instead of only two terminals as disclosed in the saidpatents. A further feature of the present invention resides in thestructural arrangement incident to the provision of six separate wirereceiving terminals connected respectively with the two fuse contactsand the four stationary switch contactsof a fused switch of the typeshown in the patents last above referred to.

In the accompanying drawings I have shown one embodiment of theinvention but it will be understood that the drawings are forillustrative purposes only and that the ,invention may be otherwiseembodied particularly by the use of the variations in the fused switchstructure such as set forth in the aforesaid patents and in theapplications referred to therein.

Of the drawings:

Figure 1 is a front view of an appliance embodyin the invention thecover of the enclosure cabinet being omitted.

Fig. 2 is a bottom view of the appliance shown in Fig. 1 the cabinetbeing shown in section.

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary'vertical sectional view taken along the line 3-3of Fig. 1.

Figs. 4 to 8 inclusive are diagrams of'possible electrical connections.

As already stated an appliance embodying the invention comprises a pairof fuse contacts and two switch devices. As concerns the broader aspectsof the invention these fuse and switch parts may be variouslyconstructed and arranged, but in order that the invention may be clearlyunderstood I have shown in Figs. 1 to 3 an embodiment thereof similar inmany respects to the construction disclosed in my said Patent No.1,754,445.

The construction as illustrated includes two pairs of fuse contacts andtwo pairs of switching devices associated respectively with each pair offuse contacts. The fuse and switch parts as illustrated are arranged ina unit and they are symmetrically disposed with respect to the verticalcentral plane of the unit. For the sake of convenience and simplicity ofdescription I will describe in detail only those parts on one side ofthe said plane, it being understood that the parts on the other side areor may be the same in construction except for reversal of position.

As illustrated the fused switch unit includes at each side two fusereceiving contacts 1 and 2. These are shown as being adapted forreceiving a cartridge enclosed fuse F but it will be understood that Ido not so limit myself. Suitable means is provided for supporting thefuse contacts and for this purpose I have shown an insulating base 3mounted in fixed spaced relationship with the rear supporting wall whichmay be the rear wall of an enclosing cabinet. The fuse contacts aremounted directly on the base, being held by screws 4, 4. Preferably thefused switch unit also includes a second insulating means 5, 5 whichserves as a supporting device and is secured directly to the saidsupporting wall by suitable devices such as screws 5', 5'. This secondinsulating means may comprise two separate members as shown but this isnot essential. All of the various conducting parts of the fused switchunit are connected with the insulating members 3 and 5, 5. Located atleast in part in the space behind the plane of the rear face of the base3 are switch devices, each comprising two stationary switch contacts anda rectilinearly movable switch contact adapted to engage or disengageboth of the stationary contacts to make or break the electricalconnections between them.

The stationary contacts for one switch device are represented at 6 and 7and the stationary switch contacts for the other switch device areindicated at 8 and 9. The several stationary switch contacts are carriedrespectively by supporting elements 10, 11, 12 and 13 which projectforward from the supporting devices 5, 5 and which may be securedthereto by screws 14, 14. Each of the switch contacts is preferably of ageneral U-shape and is provided with a laterally extending flange whichengages the corresponding supporting element. Screws 15, 15 extendthrough the flange and into the supporting element to detachahly holdthe switch contacts in place.

The supporting elements 11 and 13 are extended upward and downwardrespectively and serve, as means for supporting the base 3. Screws 1G,16 extend through the base and into the said supporting elements asillustrated.

As already stated the fuse contacts 1 and 2 are held in place on thebase 3 by screws 4. i. These screws also engage conducting straps 17 and18 which extend upward and downward respectively and also laterally fromthe fuse contacts. The straps 17 and 18 are thus electrically connectedrespectively with the fuse contacts 1 and These straps 17 and 13 arepositioned in part in open sided recesses 19 and 20 which extend forwardfrom the back face of the base. T heend portions of the straps 17 and 18extend laterally through the open sides of the recesses and in front ofa ledge 21 formed on the base at the side thereof.

For making and breaking electrical connection between the stationaryswitch contacts of the two pairs there are provided two rectilinearlymovable switch contacts which are preferably carried'by a single fiatinsulating element as described in detail in my aforesaid patent No.1,754,443. The two movable switch contacts are shown at 22 and 23respectively and the flat insulating element is shown at 24, the saidinsulating element with the movable switch contacts thereon constitutinga switching member. The said switching member is guided between theinsulating members 3 and 5, 5. It will be understood that when themember 24 is moved the two contacts 22 and 23 are moved tosimultaneously engage and disengage the respective pairs of switchcontacts 6 and 7, and 8 and 9. It will be further understood that theswitching members move upward from the positions shown to break thecircuit.

Connected respectively with the supporting elements 10, 11, 12 and 13and with the ends of thestraps 17 and 18 are wire connecting terminals25, 26, 27, 28, 29 and 30. I have shown terminals of the solder lug typebut I do not so limit myself. It will be obvious that the said terminals25, 26, 27, 28, 29 and 30 are electrically connected respectively withthe stationary switch contacts 6, 7, 8 and 9 and the fuse contacts 1 and2. It will be observed that the terminals 29 and '30 connected with thefuse contacts are at the side of the base and therefore well separatedfrom the other terminals which are at the ends of the base.

As already described the base 3 is held in place by the screws 16, 16.By removing the said screws the base with the fuse contacts thereon mayhe removed thus exposing all of the switch parts for inspection,cleaning or adjustment. Inasmuch as the. base I serves as the means forretaining and guiding the movable switching members at the front edgesthereof, it will be obvious that when the base is'removed as described,the switching members can be also removed.

Ordinarily and preferably the fused switch unit as described is enclosedwithin a suitable cabinet or casing such as the cabinet 31 shown in thedrawings. This cabinet is of the usual rectangular form and thesupporting members 5, 5 are secured to the rear wall of the cabinet bymeans of screws 5, 5' as already stated. The cabinet is shown as beingprovided with a pivoted front cover 32 which is hinged to one wall asfor instance the bottom wall, so as to be openable to permit access tothe switch and fuse parts. The cover portion of an electric meter suchas indicated at M, the said terminal chamber portion of the meterprojecting for a short distance into the cabinet and substantiallyclosing the said opening in the end wall 34. Inasmuch as the meter Mprojects into the cabinet the cabinet serves as a means not only forprotectively enclosing the connections between the switch and fuse partsand the meter.

I provide a suitable means for operating the switching devices from theexterior of the cabinet when the cover is closed and as shown this meanscomprises an operating spindle which extends through bearing aperturesin the side walls of the cabinet and which is provided with an operatinghandle 36 on the exterior of the cabinet. Within the cabinet theoperating spindle 35 is provided with a cranked portion which extendsthrough slots 37 in the respective insulating elements 24 of the-switchmembers.

. By moving the handle 36 the switch members may be moved upward ordownward as required to disengage the movable switch contacts from thestationary switch contacts or to reengage them therewith.

The cover 32 of the cabinet may be provided with an opening 38 throughwhich the fuse contacts and the fuses are accessible when the cover isclosed. The base 3 is so formed and so positioned as to substantiallyclose the opening 38 when the cover is closed. As the result of thisconstruction it is impossible to get access to the interior of thecabinet or to any of the live electrical parts therein except the fusecontacts after the cover has been closed and sealed.

If desired there may be provided an auxil iary cover for the opening inthe main cover 32, this auxiliary cover being interlocked with theswitch mechanism so that the auxiliary cover cannot be opened when theswitches are closed and so that the switches cannot be closed when theauxiliary cover is open. I have shown a transversely slidable auxiliarycover 39 which is held and guided by means of a member 40. The cover 39is provided with a knob 41 by means of which it may be moved laterally.With the parts in the positions shown the cover 39 is obstructed by thehandle 36 so that the cover cannot be opened to expose the fuses so longas the handle 36 remains in the switch closing position.

However, when the handle is moved downward to the lower position shownin Fig. 3 so as to move the switching members 24, 24 upward to open thecircuit the cover 39 is then free to be moved laterally toward the rightto permit access to the fuse contacts and the fuses; but with the coverthus movedlaterally it is impossible to move the handle 36 to close thecircuit. The interlocked cover and handle construction as disclosedconstitutes no part of the present invention, being set forth in mpatents for Enclosed fused switches, os. 1,721,493, 1,721,494 and1,721,495 all issued July 16, 1929.

When an appliance embodying the invention is intended to be used inassociation with an electric meter it is preferable to provide auxiliarycontacts in association with the several wire receiving terminals thesecontacts serving for the attachment of suitable by-pass connections andfor the attachment of the usual meter testing appliances. I have showntest contacts 25', 26, 27 28, 29, and 30' associated respectively withthe wire receiving terminals 25,, 26, 27, 28, 29 and'30.

Figs. 4 to 8 are electrical diagrams showing various electricalconnections which inay be used with a fused switch embodying theinvention. In these diagrams I have illustrated the switch as associatedwith an electric meter but it will be understood that the invention isnot so limited and that the switch may be used in associaton with otherelectrical appliances as may be desired or without immediate associationwith any other appliance.

In each of the figures the incoming service wires are indicated by S andthe outgoing load wires are indicated by L. Fig. 4 shows an electricalsequence of service wireselectrical sequence of service wiresswitchfuseswitch-meterload wires. Fig. 8 shows an electrical sequence ofservice wires fuse-switchmeterswitch-load wires. It will be understoodthatthe electrical connections shown in these figures have been selectedmerely for the purpose of illustrating the invention and that numerousother arrangements may be. used as required to meet differentconditions.

What I claim is: i 1. In a fused switch appliance, the combination of abase, two fuse receiving contacts connected with the base, two switchdevices each comprising two stationary switch contacts associated withthe base and a mov able switching member comprising a conducting elementnormally engaging the said stationary switch contacts to establishelectrical connection between them, the said switch contacts beinginitially free from electrical connection with the said fuse contacts,manually operable means for moving the movable members of the twoswitching devices to open or close the circuit through both of the saiddevices substantially simultaneously, and six wire receiving terminalsconnected respectively with the two fuse contacts and with the fourstationary switch contacts of the two switch devices.

2. In a fused switch appliance the combination of two fuse receivingcontacts, means for supporting the fuse receiving contacts in normallyfixed relationship with a rear supporting wall, two pairs of opposedstationary switch contacts in normally fixed relation to the fusecontacts, the said switch contacts being initially free from electricalconnection with the said fuse contacts, a rectilinearly movableswitching member comprising two conducting elements insulated from eachother and normally engaging the said stationary switch contacts of thecorresponding pairs to establish electrical connections between them,means for moving the said switching member to disengage the conductingelements thereof from or to re-engage them with the said stationaryswitch contacts, and six wire receiving terminals connected respectivelywith the two fuse contacts andwith the four stationary switch contactsof the switch devices.

3. In a fused switch appliance, the com bination of two fuse receivingcontacts, means including an insulating base for supporting the fusereceiving contacts in normally fixed relationship with a rear supportingwall, two pairs of opposed stationary switch contacts in normally fixedrelation to the fiiss doiitacts and located at least in part behin' a'transverseplane through the rear parts of the fuse contacts, the saidswitch contacts being initially free from electrical connection with thesaid fuse contacts, a rectilinearly movable switching member located atleast in part behind the said base and comprising two conductingelements insulated from each other and normally engaging the'saidstationary switch contacts of the correspondingipairs to establishelectrical connection flfbetween them, means for moving the saidswitching member to disengage the conducting elements thereof from ortore-engage them with the said stationary switch contacts, and six wirereceiving terminals connected respectively with the two fuse contactsand with the four stationary switch contacts of the two switch devices.

4. In a fused switch appliance the combination of two fuse receivingcontacts, means including an insulating base for supporting the fusereceiving contacts in normally fixed relationship with a rear supportingwall, two pairs of opposed stationary switch contacts in normally fixedrelation to the fuse contacts and located at least in part behind atransverse plane through the rear parts of the fuse contacts, the saidswitch contacts being initially free from electrical connection with thesaid fuse contacts, a rectilinearly movable switching member located atleast in part behind the said base and comprising two conductingelements insulated from each other and normally engaging the saidstationary switch contacts of the corresponding pairs to establishelectricalconnections between them, means for moving the saidswitchingmember to disengage the conducting elements thereof from or to re-engagethem with the said stationary switch contacts, two wire receivingterminals at one end of the base connected respectively with thestationary switch contacts of one pair, two wire receiving terminals atthe opposite end of the base connected respectively with the stationaryswitch contacts of the other pair, and two wire receiving terminals atone side of the base connected respectively with the two fuse contacts.Y

5. In a fused switch appliance, the combination of two fuse receivingcontacts, means including an insulating base for supporting the fusereceiving contacts in normally fixed relationship with a rear supportingwall, the said base having twoopen-siderecesses adjacent the respectivefuse contacts, two pairs of opposed stationary switch contactstinnormally fixed relation to the fuse contacts and located at least inpart behind a transverse plane through the rear parts of the fusecontacts, the said switch contacts being initially free from electricalconnection with the said fuse contacts, a rectilinearly movableswitching member located at least in part behind the said base andcomprising two conducting elements insulated from each other andnormally engaging the said stationary switch contacts of thecorresponding pairs to establish electrical connections between them,meanes for moving the said switching member to disengage the conductingelements thereof from or to re-engage them with the said stationaryswitch contacts, two pairs of switch contacts of one pair and theterminals of the other pair being connected respectively with thestationary switch contacts of the other pair, two conducting strapslocated in the said recesses in the base and electrically connected withthe respectively adjacent fuse contacts, and two other wire receivingterminals located at one side of the base and connected respectivelywith the said straps.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand this 30th day of June,1927.

JOSEPH SACHS.

